HR: 14:50h
AN: SA43A-05    [Abstracts]
TI: High Latitude Electron Density Distribution determined by GPS TEC and Incoherent Scatter Radar measurements
AU: * Coster, A
EM: ajc@haystack.mit.edu
AF: MIT Haystack Observatory, Route 40, Westford, MA 01886, United States
AU: Zhang, S
EM: shunrong@haystack.mit.edu
AF: MIT Haystack Observatory, Route 40, Westford, MA 01886, United States
AU: Nicolls, M
EM: michael.nicolls@sri.com
AF: SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025, United States
AU: Rideout, W
EM: brideout@haystack.mit.edu
AF: MIT Haystack Observatory, Route 40, Westford, MA 01886, United States
AU: Heinselman, C
EM: craig.heinselman@sri.com
AF: SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025, United States
AU: McCready, M
EM: mary.mccready@sri.com
AF: SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025, United States
AU: van Eyken, T
EM: Tony.vanEyken@eiscat.com
AF: EISCAT, Box 432, EISCAT, Kiruna, Sweden
AB: The March 1-6, 2007 incoherent scatter radar (ISR) world day experiments coincided with the start of the International Polar Year. The primary objective of the March 1-6 campaign was to examine the distribution of the topside electron density by comparing GPS and high latitude ISR total electron content (TEC) measurements. A detailed comparison between TEC measurements from multiple GPS receivers either collocated or in close proximity to the Poker Flat, Alaska ISR (PFISR) facility will be presented. Similar observations from the Sondrestrom and EISCAT ISRs will also be discussed. Although the geomagnetic conditions during the March 1- 6 time period were primarily quiet (Kp = 1,2), there were a few periods of mild to moderate activity. The quiet time periods were used to determine the background conditions. At the beginning of the geomagnetically disturbed time period, the PFISR TEC observations revealed an increase of 1.5 TEC units approximately an hour after local noon (1:30 UT). This TEC enhancement also corresponded to an increase in the height of the F layer by tens of kilometers. Later that day, at approximately 12 UT, an enhanced E-region electron density distribution was observed for 2-3 hours. During these time periods, elevated TEC measurements were detected by several of the surrounding GPS receivers. Using the network of GPS receivers in Alaska and the directional capability of the PFISR radar, we will analyze the location and size of these enhancements and discuss possible source mechanisms.
DE: 2407 Auroral ionosphere (2704)
DE: 2481 Topside ionosphere
DE: 2494 Instruments and techniques
DE: 2704 Auroral phenomena (2407)
DE: 6929 Ionospheric physics (1240, 2400)
SC: SPA-Aeronomy [SA]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting